October 2013 I-130 Filers

[familiamupi 3]

Hi everyone, we submitted my husband's application in October and so far have only received NOA1. I have been following this post for awhile but thought I would introduce myself. We have been married for almost 8 months and live in Nicaragua (my husband's home country).

[Jorfrank 0]

Hi everybody:

I'm a October filler, I received NOA 1 on Oct. 23 . Since then, I have followed this topic and it is frustrating to be waiting for NOA 2. I suffer from severe anxiety and I do not know what else to do, some people say that this could take up to 18 months . Please any advise will be considered.

[nightingalejules 678]

You're right, it is frustrating. I'm sorry that you suffer from anxiety, but the fact is that there's really nothing any of us can do at this stage to speed anything up. It'll happen when it happens. I know that doesn't help and me telling you not to worry is certainly not going to work. I know

I can only say that we're all in the same boat here and it's nice to be able to support each other.

I know it helps me to check out some of the other monthly forums (particularly August, right now) and see how the transfers and approvals are coming along for them. It makes me feel better to see those transfers creeping closer and closer to October. And you see how excited the people are who are getting transferred and approved and you think - "In a couple months that's going to be me!"

It works for me, anyway.

Good luck!

[usc85 6]

Hi all fellow October filers,

10/10 reporting in. Been lurking on this thread for too long. Wanted to say hi all!

[Sulaimon & Brandy 20]

Hi all fellow October filers,

10/10 reporting in. Been lurking on this thread for too long. Wanted to say hi all!

hello and welcome..........

[A & Y 15]

It's frustrating to wait so much for NOA2 since October 2014.

[bomzy4ever 11]

For some reason, I have a feeling that we might hear about our NOA 2 before April ends, I just hope my prediction is correct

[SliderMK 3]

For some reason, I have a feeling that we might hear about our NOA 2 before April ends, I just hope my prediction is correct

I sure hope so

[nightingalejules 678]

For some reason, I have a feeling that we might hear about our NOA 2 before April ends, I just hope my prediction is correct

Wouldn't that be nice - and if things keep going the way they have been, (July all transferred and mostly approved in Jan/Feb, August all transferred and mostly approved in Feb/Mar) it's not out of the realm of possibility! Hubby and I (both in Canada and both private music teachers) would prefer a trip all the way to Montreal during summer vacation, rather than just after school starts up again!

[dustyrah 13]

I am in the October batch as well I guess since I got NOA-1 on Oct 23rd and it says Texas Service Center so I am assuming its being processed at TSC right now.

I always look at http://www.visajourney.com/content/times and get confused since on right side there is I130 for IR1 and for TSC it keeps changing back AND forth. I mean how can the date go from July 23rd yesterday to June 5th today? Does that just mean that someone who applied June 5th, 2013 got approved today and it shows the latest member who reported in as updated?

[dee&vee 79]

Does that just mean that someone who applied June 5th, 2013 got approved today and it shows the latest member who reported in as updated?

Yes that's correct. Don't rely on processing times page here. That page shows CSC as slowest right now, but in reality they are handling highest amount of i130s. Due to the files transferring all over from NBC to CSC and TSC, approval dates are very random. Most of the files after october 22nd went to service centers directly and we are basically first people to reach directly to service centers. I hope they process our files in order, not just the files that were transferred from NBC. At least TSC is slowly working on some i130s. I have no idea what Vermont service center is up to. They are not even getting any i130s transfer from NBC.

[dustyrah 13]

Yes that's correct. Don't rely on processing times page here. That page shows CSC as slowest right now, but in reality they are handling highest amount of i130s. Due to the files transferring all over from NBC to CSC and TSC, approval dates are very random. Most of the files after october 22nd went to service centers directly and we are basically first people to reach directly to service centers. I hope they process our files in order, not just the files that were transferred from NBC. At least TSC is slowly working on some i130s. I have no idea what Vermont service center is up to. They are not even getting any i130s transfer from NBC.

Thanks, that makes more sense now.

[100JH 129]

Don't know why but I am in a great mood today. I am getting a strong feeling, and hoping, that many of us Oct. filers start to get good news in the next two to three months.

My wife is in her 5th month of school learning English and loving it. She never misses a day, even if she is sick. She ride a bus for an hour and a half, one way, has 4 hours of school and then rides the bus back. On the bus she has men grabbing her butt, has had people try to steal her purse and her phone. She gets upset at these people, her own people, but it never changes her attitude about going to school or our future. I am fortunate she is so positive and diligent. She does her written and internet homework religiously, goes to the gym daily and has a small internship. She is doing great and we are making plans for our future as well as hers, upon her arrival. A very beautiful woman, always smiling, happy, patient and positive (almost). I am blessed.

I live alone. I work at home. Kind of makes me a little stir crazy at times. I get out daily, spend time with my son a few times a week, go to movies, exercise, talk with friends at Starbucks, study, read books, walks in the freezing cold, travel for work a few times a month, play Call of Duty every night with my Clan, talk to her every night on Facebook and in general? Try to stay busy! Thank God for WhatsApp and Facebook/Skype! I am glad we have technology! Can you imagine doing this 30 years ago with very expensive overseas phone calls and traditional written mail? We are lucky! I am also fortunate that I can travel to see her every 6 to 8 weeks (DC to Bogota...next trip is in 24 days). Also that I have a very good paying job and am financially stable. She does not have to work and is able to use this time to prepare for her large transition. I am doing everything I can to prepare for her arrival.

I try not to write too much on this board because of a number of comments i have received on my posts. I see craziness on this board sometimes and just wanted to share some positive vibes. Keep our chins up, as well as maintain a positive outlook, Oct. filers...our time is coming.

PS...do we have some sort of excel spreadsheet, graph, or other way of seeing who has been approved on this board in the past? for example; regarding NOA2's received... July filers 50%, August filers 40%, September filers 30%, to use as a general tracking guide or estimate?

[Ketsuban 1,034]

On the bus she has men grabbing her butt, has had people try to steal her purse and her phone. She gets upset at these people, her own people, but it never changes her attitude about going to school or our future.

I often-times just sit and wonder how people can behave like this and feel that it is perfectly acceptable. I think they bring great shame upon their country and fellow men.

[100JH 129]

I often-times just sit and wonder how people can behave like this and feel that it is perfectly acceptable. I think they bring great shame upon their country and fellow men.

I agree. I do not like it either. She is not weak or docile and she does not tolerate it, but in Colombia? It is quite common. Sexism is still very alive. It is difficult to be beautiful and female in Colombia, many see you in the wrong light. I try to give her hope and know that in the US she will have her own car. That if she needs to ride the bus or metro that she does not to have to worry so much about these things. They still happen, just much less.

It also gives me another perspective when I travel overseas, or spend time in her neighborhood in Bogota. It reminds me how lucky and fortunate we are. We do not have to work 12 to 16 hour days, 6 days a week just to earn enough to pay for the common things like rent, food, cable tv and internet. That we have so much which so many here take for granted. Many people complain about a lot of things, but do not realize this. Hell, just to have heat, air conditioning and hot running water is a luxury compared to some places in the world.

But I have also learned that we work too hard and obsess too much. We should dance more. Celebrate the little things in life. Enjoy what we have and who we are with. In my many travels (5 continents) I have learned much from others as well. Take the time to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend and not order our express cappuccinos to go. Sit down. Breathe. See the beauty around us, smell the roses and not drive by them in a flash in our Lexus.

So I have to wait a few more months for her Visa? It could be a lot worse.